Relationship part 6

 

It was the sacred sages known as The Monotones who in the 1957 sang, “I wonder, wonder, wonder who…who wrote the book of love.”  Fun fact, that song was inspired by a toothpaste commercial with the line, “You’ll wonder where the yellow went…went you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.”  And who said dental care was not inspirational??  I read this on the internet, so it must be true.

 

Who wrote the book of love is a question we live our whole life answering.  You are a walking index of experiences and encounters that taught you about love.

 

Some of the lessons were positive.

Some were negative.

Some filled you so full you could burst.

Some drained you, left your soul feel parched.

 

Maybe your parents and grandparents modeled healthy relationships of respect, kindness, joy, and laughter…maybe you spent your childhood walking on eggshells or felt the pain of addiction leave a mark ~ emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

 

You have read about love, heard it on the radio, and seen it on the silver screen.

 

What is in the index of your book of love?

 

Take out a piece of and begin to write down the names of people you can remember who have left fingerprints on your heart.  Start with family: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, second cousins twice removed.  Next write down names of childhood friends through college roommates.  Next colleagues, coaches, mentors, and companions in your adulthood.  The point is NOT to come up with a complete, exhaustive, perfect list of everyone.  Remember from yesterday ~ on average most of us have 300 friendships in our lives.  There is NO way we can remember everyone.  Rather, to begin to name and notice those whose life made you who you are.  Take time today to rewind and remember those whose presence lingers in your mind, heart, and on the shelves of your soul.

 

Prayer: God, You are known in relationships, You still come to us in the flesh of family and friends.  Thank you for those whose love has enfolded us.  Thank you for moments when we have realized the fragility of love; how vulnerable it can be to share our shy souls with others.  Thank you for the holy invitation love has that can break us open.  We pray especially for those in the world whose hearts are harden and bitter from the pain of the past that confines them in emotional and spiritual prisons.  Let Your liberating love move through us to others this day and week.  Amen.